Nail holding attachment for hammers



Nov. 6, 1951 B. VlGlL 2,574,304

NAIL HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR HAMMERS Filed Jan. 24, 1947 jamncz'a Vi 'yl' Z 7 INVENTOR.

BY 2 rt 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT omcr.

- HAMIVIERS Bonancio Vigil, Capillin, Colo.

Application January 24, 1947, Serial No. 723,948

This invention embodies a nail holding device to be attached to hammer heads, whereby a nail may be removably secured to a hammer head and properly positioned for driving, thereby providing means to permit the use of a hammer by one-armed men. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding a nail in place on the hammer head, when positioning the nail in restricted places wherein it is impossible to hold the nail with one hand while it is bein driven with a hammer held in the other hand.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a nail holding device which may be readily and easily secured in position on a hammer head, eliminating the necessity of making alterations in the hammer head construction, to mount the nail holding device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating a nail holding device as positioned on a hammer head.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Figure 3 is a sectional view take on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the pivoted secured member used in clamping the side members of the nail holding device, against the hammer head.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises a body portion 5 which may be stamped from a length of sheet metal material, and then bent to provide side members 6 which are formed with slots 1, the portions of the metal adjacent to the slots being curved outwardly, as clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Secured to the side members by means of rivets 8, are members 9 constructed of spring metal, the members 9 being also formed with slots extending inwardly from the outer ends thereof, the slots aligning with the slots 1 of the side members 6.

The slots of the members 9 provide yieldable fingers 10 which are also curved to conform to 1 Claim'; (Cl. 145-30) the shape of the curved portions of the side members 6 adjacent to the slots! thereof, the yieldable fingers being spaced slightly from the side members to permit the yieldable fingers to move towards the side members, when a nail head is positioned under the fingers Hi.

In constructing the body portion, tongues II are formed on the inner edge of the body portion, which tongues are adapted to fit around portions of the claw of the hammer. At the opposite side of the body portion are tongues l2 which may be curved around the shank of the hammer driving head to secure the body portion in position.

Portions of the body 5 adjacent to the inner end thereof are extended outwardly and rearwardly over the body portion in spaced relation therewith, providing wide tongues l3, under which the stationary portion of the securing clamp, is held. The securing clamp is indicated by the reference character l4 and is constructed of heavy wire material, the ends thereof being formed into eyes I5 which interlock with the eyes iii of the lever or movable section of the clamp IT.

The eyes l6 of the movable section of the clamp are inclined outwardly as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawing, so that when the movable section is swung outwardly to the dotted line position as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawing, the ends of the stationary section of the securing clamp, will swing outwardly, but when the movable section I! is moved so that the arms l8 thereof engage opposite sides of the handle of the hammer, the ends of the stationary section of the clamp are drawn inwardly, with the result that the side members 6 are also moved into close engagement with the hammer head.

In order that the device may be readily positioned on a hammer head, one of the eyes II is left slightly open so that the movable section of the clamping member may be positioned on the stationary section, when the device is being secured on a hammer head.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a holding device wherein a nail will be frictionally held by the yieldable fingers ID, in such a way that the nail may be readily positioned and the hammer withdrawn leaving the nail in place for it to be driven home.

With this device it is possible to position a nail in restricted areas wherein it is impossible to hold the nail with one hand and drive the nail with a hammer held in the other hand.

It will also be seen that by this structure, nails may be driven by a person having but one arm.

What is claimed is:

A device of the class described, comprising a body portion adapted to be secured over the head of a hammer substantially enclosing the major portion of the head of the hammer, said body portion including yieldable side members extending along opposite sides of the hammer head and handle, the free ends of the side members being curved outwardly providing tongues, a securing clamp secured to the tongues and holding the side members in close engagement with the sides of the hammer head, one of said side menibers having a slot extending inwardly from one edge thereof, portions of said one side member adjacent to the slots being spaced from the ham-- mer head on which the device is positioned, spring fingers secured to the body portion, said spring fingers being disposed within the spaces adjacent to the edges of the slot, whereby a nail may be gripped between said fingers with the head. of the nail abutting the hammer head for securing a nail to the hammer for the initial positioning of the nail with the hammer, preparatory to driving the nail.

BONANCIO VIGIL.

REFERENCES ,cI'TED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 469,710 Munn et al. Mar. 1, 1892 587,623 Treat Aug. 3, 1897 869,835 Fowler Oct. 29, 1907 1,029,934 Kidd June 18, 1912 20 1,133,277 Gore Mar. 30, 1915 

